Water-bag.



Patented May 13, I902. H. H. UPHAM.

W A T E R B A G.

(Application filed Jam 17, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheat I.

(No Model.)

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5E (mm/6 TH: Nonms PETERS 20 vrlofo-urum. wunmufom D. c

No. 699,778. Patented May l3, I902.

H. H. UPHAM. I

WATER BAG.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE Nnams rzrms co. monmuwou wAsmNm'om o. c.

,citizen of the United States, residing in the Unrrnn warns HUBBARD II. UPH AM,

arnnr FFICE.

OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

WATER BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,778, dated May is, 1902.

Application filed January 17,1902

To rtZZ- 1071,0721, it In/(by concern:

Be it known that I, HUBBARD H. UPHAM, a

city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vater-Bags, of which the following; isa specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to what are known commercially as water-bags, designed for use as a means of applying either heat or cold to the body and usually made of rubber orother flexible waterproof material. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, these have been made in the form of one bag or compartment only, which when filled with water becomes more or less stiff and rigid and imperfectly adapted to conform to the curves of the body.

I attain advantages hereinafter set forth by my invention which consists, primarily, in forming a water-bag with two or more cells or compartments united by a flexible web or webs, and, secondarily, in certain features in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed more specifically.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation illustrating my invention in its simplest form with twocompartments. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing my invention embodying three compartments or cells. Fig. 3 is a section upon plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section upon plane of line 4 4:, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a preferred form embodying my invention; Fig. 6, a section upon plane of line 6 6, Fig. 5; Fig. '7, a section upon plane of line 7 7, Fig. 5; and Fig. 8, a partial section upon plane of line 8 8, Fig. 5.

The distinguishing feature of my invention involves a plurality of water cells, pockets, or compartments 0 c, united integrally with, and by one or more webs or flattened connecting portions Z. Thus in Fig. l the device is shown in its simpler form consisting of two cells or compartments united by a single web or flattened connecting portion 1, while in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 the incorporation of three water cells or compartments 0 c c in one integral appliance is illustrated, it being ob- Serial No. 90,164. (No model.)

vious that any desired plural number of wafor cells or compartments may be thus combined with relation to each other without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention. Each water cell or compartment 0 maybe complete and independent of the others, but joined to each other bya Web or flattened connecting portion Z and provided with its own aperture a for the introduction or removal of water, &C., closed by a screw-cap b in the usual way, or they may be made to communicate with each other through the medium of ducts or passages (l d, formed in the webs or flattened connecting portions Z, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, in which case a single aperture and a single cap will answer for filling or emptying all the water cells or compartments 0 c.

Any suitable-number of lugs e 9, formed with openings e e, as heretofore, are provided as means by which to suspend the appliance, either inverted for the purpose of drainage or upright to facilitate filling, or they may be used to aid in suspending or attaching the appliance to the person.

The device is also formed with a suitable number of loopsf f, through which a strap, band, or cord may be passed for the purpose of binding the appliance to the person, as by bands 9 g. (Shown in part in Fig. 5.)

It is to be understood that my improved device is to be made of waterproof material in any desired or well-known manner, as by the uniting of sheets of rubber by vulcanization, as in the manufacture of the single water-bags heretofore placed upon the market,- or by any other suitable method.

The main advantage attained by my construction of a plurality of water cells or compartments united by flexible ligatures is that the appliances may be made to fit closely and snugly around the person, so as to apply the heat or cold uniformly at both sides or ends of the appliance, as well as in the middle. Thus for a given capacity of water as con1- pared with the old form of single-cell waterbag my device is rendered much more effective, will cover a greater area, and will apply the heat or cold more evenly and economically, since the contact of the side cells with the person will be as close as that of the middle cell, and consequently there will be no waste of heat or cold, whereas in the old form of single cell only the central part of the bag would be in intimate contact with the person, the ends protruding more or less away from the person, and consequently performing the desired function imperfectly and with loss or waste of temperature. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to apply a single-cell water-bag to any desired part of the person and to maintain it in such position with con Venience and certainty, owing to its tendency to slip by reason of its imperfect contact with the body, Whereas my device by conforming to the shape of the part to which it is applied can be readily and conveniently bound thereto without danger of slip or displacement or discomfort to the user.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an improved article of manufacture a multiple water-bag comprising a plurality of independent flexible water cells or compartments each complete in itself and united byflexible flattened connecting portions, said water-cells being in communication with each other by passages through said flattened connecting portions, as set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a multiple water-bag comprising a plurality of independent flexible water cells or compartments each complete in itself and united by flexible flattened connecting portions, said multiple water-bag being provided with means for admitting water to, confining it in and discharging it from said water cells or compartments, as set forth.

3. As an improved article of manufacture a multiple water-bag comprising a plurality of independent flexible water cells or compartments each complete in itself and united by flexible flattened connecting portions, said multiple water-bag having means for admitting water to one of said cells, and a commu nication between said cell and the others, as

set forth.

HUBBARD H. UPHAM.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, F. E. ROACH. 

